Sialography: a pictorial review

Non-tumour inflammatory and obstructive salivary gland pathologies such as sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, sialadenosis, ductal strictures, etc. require precise radiological evaluation and mapping of salivary gland ductal system for better treatment outcome. Conventional sialography is considered as a useful and reliable technique in evaluation of salivary glands especially intrinsic and acquired abnormalities involving the ductal system and is useful for detection of non-radiopaque sialoliths which are invisible on routine plain radiographs. Primarily sialography is used as a diagnostic tool, additionally it plays an important therapeutic role as salivary gland lavage in cases of recurrent salivary gland infections and in obstructive salivary gland disorders by helping in clearance of mucous plugs or small sialoliths within the ducts. Recently, diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) sialography is being explored and has been reported to have high sensitivity in detection of small sialoliths and allows differentiation of sialoliths from other calcifications in glandular ductal system. Multiplanar three dimensional (3D) reconstructed CT images have been reported to play a key role in determination of anatomical location or extent of salivary gland disease without superimposition or distortion of structures. This review aims to discuss the disease specific applications of sialography and CT Sialography in particular for visualization of salivary gland disorders.